Adjustable neckband for collars and shirts



March 19,719.46.. R. E. FRANKLIN 'ADJJJSTABLE NEcKBANDs FoR ooLLARsAND SHIRTS' Filed Aug.l s', 1944 INVENTOR.'

Patented Mar. 19, 1946 ADJUSTABLE-NECKBAND FOR COLLARS AND SHIRTS;v

Ralph Edward Franklin, Minneapolis, Minn. Application August25, 1944', Serial vNot-551,093v

4 Claims.

This invention relates-to circumferentially adjustable neckbands and collarsvv for shirts.

It isa fact-that regardlessofthe extent to whicha colla-r-or-shirt-is pre-shrunk, a certain amount` of shrinking takes -place Y after repeated laundering. Furthermore,- the `circumference `of theneck'of the average: person varies slightly throughout the years: and` under different temperatureV and physical conditions. 1

It is an object ofmy inventionfto-provide a simple -1 and inexpensive structurewhich-mayl bevery readilyl Aembodied-inv attached tor detachable shirt collars and through the use of which an adjustment circumferencel of the neckband varying from one-eighth to one-half of an inch may be made at the election of the wearer.

More specifically it is an object to provide the neckband of an attached or detachable collar with a narrow straight reinforced zone extending transversely of the circumference thereof, which may be slit to increase the circumference of the collar.

A still further object is to provide an adjustable collar of the class described wherein pro- Vision for circumferential adjustment may be made without changing the over-lap of the free ends of the neckband and which may be conveniently and commercially applied to the manufacture of both collar attached shirts and shirt collars or neckbands with little additional cost and through the use of conventional machinery now employed in the manufacture of shirts.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will be more apparent from the following description made in connection with 'the accompanying drawing, wherein like character references refer to the same parts throughout the several views and in which- Fig.` 1 is a front perspective view showing an embodiment of my invention applied to an attached folded collar of a shirt with one of my adjusting elements slit for increasing the circumference of the collar;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the shirt shown in Fig. 1 and looking forwardly toward the juncture of the free ends of the neckband, and;

Fig. 3 is 'a fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 s

As shown in the drawing, my invention is applied to a conventional type of soft shirt with attached folded collar C having the usual double ply collar proper 4 attached to the double ply neckband 5 in conventional manner by a row of stitching 6 adjacent the upper edge of the neckband; The shirt-"properlsdivided at v-the front in the usual mannerl along' the line: aligned-with the the colla-r; band are'providediwith the usual fastener-meanssuch asa button hole: and button.`

I2 provide'- inconjunction with u the shirt 1 coliar heretoforefdescribed; a series of separable-adjustment elements formed in the neckband' andextending transversely to `thef-circumference--thereof. Each of these elements comprises arei-nforced subst-antially` straight @zone Z1 constituting :a very narrow substantially.: vertical 1 portionl or, stripof the lintegral 'fabric or plies; constituting .the collar band with`v a reinforcement surrounding saidivery narrow portion or zone and extending through the entire thickness of the collar band.

While other reinforcing medias may be successfully utilized, I prefer to form in a plurality of circumferentially spaced portions of the neckband. an elongated complete button hole stitching S dening said separable very narrow area or zone Z and entirely surrounding the same. Button hole stitching is particularly adaptable for reinforcing the separable zone since it may be carried out quickly and at low cost, with standard machinery available to shirt and collar manufacturera I prefer to provide at least one of said separable adjustment elements at the central rear ofthe neck with two or more disposed forwardly of the rear adjustment element. I find that if two additional separable adjustment elements are utilized, themost convenient and effective positioning of the same is as shown in Fig. 2, spaced equidistant at the sides and front of the neck band, a few inches from the button hole for connecting the free ends of the band.

It is to be understood that the separable adjustment elements are not applied or extended through the collar proper 4 but in the manufacture of the shirt, are produced in the neckband 5 only with a reinforcing stitch or other reinforcing media extending through the full thickness (whether single or multiple) of the band. The material of the neckband is of course, left unsevered as clearly shown in Fig. 2 with the reinforcing media S defining a narrow area or Zone Z which may be subsequently slit by the wearer for enlarging the circumference of the collar. In Fig. 1 the adjustment element has been severed and is shown in separated condition giving an adjustment to the circumference of the neckband of approximately one-eighth of an inch in a full size collar. Further adjustment may be made in the same collar band severing one or both of the unseparated adjustment elements shown in Fig. 2.

If, after severing one of the adjustment elements to increase the circumference of the collar, it becomes desirable to shorten the circumference, the slit, narrow zone may be stitched together very easily to cause the collar to resume its original circumference. v

With my structure, it will be seen that when the narrow strip area or zone is severed, the fabric of the neckband cannot fray, tear or rip since it is reinforced and finished by the reinforcement or stitching S.

YIt will of course, be understood that any in# strument such as a knife, shears or scalpel may be readily utilized to sever the zone Z longitudinally from one end of the button holestitching or other reinforcing media.

It will be readily seen that my invention is as readily applicable to detachable collars or to the ,collar neckbands of conventional shirts to which detachable collars are applied.

AIt will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, ar-

rangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

' vWhat isclaimed is:

1. An adjustable neck band for shirts and collars having theus-ual free ends and having means for securing said ends together in a predetermined position, comprising at least one substan- `ti'ally straight, separable, very narrow area extending transversely of the circumference of the transversely to the circumference of said band and said reinforcing element having reinforcement means disposed at least, along both elongated sides of said narrow strip to prevent subsequent ripping or'fraying of the collar band material when said strip is severed for adjustment.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said reinforcing element is endless and surrounds the entire severable strip.

4. In an adjustable neck band for shirts and collars having the usual free ends and having means for securing said ends together, a narrow elongated button hole stitch formed throughout the fabric in said band rand extending transversely to the circumference thereof and defining a very narrow transverse area of said fabric i which may be slit for increasing the circumference of said band, said stitch preventing subsequent, ripping or fraying of said fabric when said area is severed.

RALPH EDWARD FRANKLIN. 

